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On Saturday August 30th we’ve reached this year’s final Grand Tour, Vuelta a España. The race kicks off in the Southern part of Spain – more specifically in Andalucía with a spectacular view of the largest mountains in Spain: Sierra Nevadas.

At the foot of the impressive Alhambra Palace the first 7.7 of the Vuelta’s 3,131 kilometers will be taking place in the form of a team time trial. Following that is 20 stages whereof two are individual time trials of a total of 69.6 kilometers. The last time the race was opened with a team time trial was in 2006, where Team CSC won the stage after which Carlos Sastre wore the Golden Leader’s Jersey for the first and only time in the Spanish captain’s impressive career.

Sastre is also captain this year and will be attempting to secure himself his sixth top-10 spot in the Vuelta. In 2000 he won the Mountain Competition on his way to an overall eight place and during the last four years he’s also been among the top-10. He was sixth in 2004, second in 2005, fourth in 2006 and last year he took and impressive second place after having been on the attack in almost all the mountain stages.

“I’m very happy with the route this year - It’ll be a great Vuelta. There are some tough mountain stages and a few tough ones in between as well so it should be interesting. I think the stages in Asturia might be quite decisive. We have a very competent group of guys here even though there’s only one rider from the Tour line-up. All nine of us are top motivated and that’s what counts. I might automatically be among the favorites because I won the Tour, but some of the other guys and teams will also have to step up and claim responsibility in this race – especially Alberto Contador, who’s been preparing himself specifically for the Vuelta. I’m confident that we as a team will be able to put our mark on this race,” says Carlos Sastre.

“As usual we have a broad team with a lot of different strengths. Both Karsten Kroon and Alexandr Kolobnev are able to neutralize breaks in all kinds of terrain and for the sprints in the first week we have Haedo and Matti. Then we have Volodymir Gustov, Inigo Cuesta and Michael Blaudzun, who’s jobs are to assist Carlos as much as possible and if Jurgen is as strong in the mountains as last year he should be able to do well,” says sports director Scott Sunderland and sums up:

“There’s no doubt that our main goal is the podium in Madrid, but we also have some great opportunities along the way.”

Apart from winning the team time trial in 2006 the Danish team only has one single stage win in the Vuelta from 2005, where Nicki Sørensen won, so more would be great.

The race will be the final Grand Tour for Michael Blaudzun, who’s had a great season so far, but who will be ending his career, when the season closes. It’s possible that Vuelta a España might even be his last ever race, but it hasn’t been decided yet, whether he will be taking part in some of the October races and the World Championships are also a possibility.

“Of course it’ll be quite a strange experience for me. I’ll be nostalgic at times I’m sure, but I’m at peace with my decision and I’ve had time to get used to the idea since I made it during last winter. But I’m looking forward to this race and I hope to be able to do well in both the first time trial and as helper for Carlos along the way,” says Blaudzun.

After the initial team time trial in Granada the peloton travels up from Andalucía towards Madrid, but initially only to Federico Bahamonte’s hometown of Toledo, following which the riders will be taking the TGV-train up to Barbastro in the Aragon province on September 4th for the first rest day.

On September 6th during the seventh stage they hit the big mountains in Andorra and the first climb outside of category. This stage also includes the first category-1 climb. The following day another two category-1 climbs and one outside of category during the stage from Andorra to Pla de Beret, and the ninth stage also counts as a mountain stage even though it ends in a long descent.

The next mountain finish will be 13th stage – the day after the second rest day – where there’s a serious chance to make a difference on the infamous Alto de L’Angrilu climb. The next day the stage ends on a category-1 climb - Fuentes de Invierno and after that the GC riders will have to get ready for the final time trial.

Photo by: CorVos Pro